Difference between revisions of "The Carneros Watershed"
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The Carneros Creek Watershed is located in the Central Coast of California, in Monterey County. The Carneros Watershed is part of the larger Elkhorn Slough Watershed, and Carneros Creek (not to be confused with the Carneros Creek in Napa, California) is the main fresh water tributary to Elkhorn Slough. | The Carneros Creek Watershed is located in the Central Coast of California, in Monterey County. The Carneros Watershed is part of the larger Elkhorn Slough Watershed, and Carneros Creek (not to be confused with the Carneros Creek in Napa, California) is the main fresh water tributary to Elkhorn Slough. | ||
== Location, Size and Climate == | == Location, Size and Climate == | ||
| − | The Carneros Creek Watershed is located within the limits of Monterey County in the California central coast | + | The Carneros Creek Watershed covers approximately 70Km², and is located within the limits of Monterey County in the California central coast. It comprises the towns of Aromas, Las Lomas, and parts of Prunedale. The area has a Mediterranean climate <ref name = "Holloway">Reference text http:://http://sep.csumb.edu/cwsp/theses/Holloway_Thesis_101217.pdf </ref> |
, with mild summers with temperatures in the 60's, and cool, mild, winters with temperatures in the 50's <ref name = "AromasW">Reference text http://www.idcide.com/weather/ca/aromas.htm </ref> . The warmest month of the year is September, and the coldest is December, with average maximum and minimum temperatures of 73.7°F and 38.1°F respectively. The winter months are wetter than the summer months, and the wettest month is January; the annual average precipitation is 23.25 Inches <ref name = "AromasW" />. | , with mild summers with temperatures in the 60's, and cool, mild, winters with temperatures in the 50's <ref name = "AromasW">Reference text http://www.idcide.com/weather/ca/aromas.htm </ref> . The warmest month of the year is September, and the coldest is December, with average maximum and minimum temperatures of 73.7°F and 38.1°F respectively. The winter months are wetter than the summer months, and the wettest month is January; the annual average precipitation is 23.25 Inches <ref name = "AromasW" />. | ||
Revision as of 19:50, 2 February 2011
The Carneros Creek Watershed is located in the Central Coast of California, in Monterey County. The Carneros Watershed is part of the larger Elkhorn Slough Watershed, and Carneros Creek (not to be confused with the Carneros Creek in Napa, California) is the main fresh water tributary to Elkhorn Slough.
Contents
Location, Size and Climate
The Carneros Creek Watershed covers approximately 70Km², and is located within the limits of Monterey County in the California central coast. It comprises the towns of Aromas, Las Lomas, and parts of Prunedale. The area has a Mediterranean climate [1] , with mild summers with temperatures in the 60's, and cool, mild, winters with temperatures in the 50's [2] . The warmest month of the year is September, and the coldest is December, with average maximum and minimum temperatures of 73.7°F and 38.1°F respectively. The winter months are wetter than the summer months, and the wettest month is January; the annual average precipitation is 23.25 Inches [2].
Land cover / land use
The Carneros watershed covers approximately 70-km2 with mixed land use including, rural residential, grazed grasslands, cultivated areas, maritime chaparral, oak woodlands and riparian areas. Agricultural land use occupies approximately 10% of the watershed of which strawberries are the dominant crop. Other corps include, raspberries, flowers and vegetables [3]. Agro-industrial activities in the watershed include a mushroom growing operation and a chicken ranch [1].
Historically, the Carneros watershed was dominated by Oak woodlands. The Carneros Creek was then a steady moving stream that moved through numerous wetlands. Activities of settlement including the reclamation efforts to drain the lower levels of the Carneros Creek, resulted in the loss of these wetlands and continue to influence the creek to this day [1].
A wetland restoration project is currently underway on Triple M Ranch, located on the lower reaches of Carneros Creek.
Surface water hydrology
Carneros stream flows vary according to rainfall. The watershed drains nearly 18,000 acres of steep slopes and flood planes. Carneros soils combined with little development result in almost complete infiltration of water. Run off is caused by bare ground and impermeable surfaces. Agricultural plastics, mulch, and hoop houses accounts for most all impermeable surfaces [3].
Groundwater hydrology
Hydrolic head measurements of the regional groundwater aquifer appear to be similar to historical levels, occurring at elevations from 10 ft above sea level to 10 below sea level [1].
Environmental Concerns
As part of the Elkhorn Slough Watershed, the Carneros Creek Watershed is subject to the same potential watershed impacts on Elkhorn Slough. A Management Plan of the Carneros Creek Watershed was prepared by the Carneros Creek Association in 2000 to address areas of concern such as erosion control, sustainable flood management, improvements in water quality, restoration of riparian corridors, and water conservation. The Carneros Creek and its tributaries have not been listed as impaired under the 303-d section of the Clean Water Act.
The Carneros Creek Watershed provides habitat to some species listed as threatened or endangered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, such as the California Red-Legged Frog (Rana draytonii), California Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma californiense), and the Santa Cruz Long-Toed Salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum).
Several organizations in the area such as ALBA, theElkhorn Slough Foundation, ESNERR, and Triple M Ranch provide support, offer educational opportunities, and conduct research in The Carneros Watershed.
Availability of hydrological data
Largay (2007)established rain gauges throughout the Carneros creek in order to characterize flows of surface water. Gauges are located at Carneros Creek at the Railcar Bridge, at the Sill Road Crossing, at the Johnson Road Bridge, and in the Oxbow Pond. All gauges are equipped with temperature recorders, Solinist Leveloggers, and a stilling well. To compensate for barometric changes, Solanist barologgers have been installed at all sites.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Reference text http:://http://sep.csumb.edu/cwsp/theses/Holloway_Thesis_101217.pdf
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Reference text http://www.idcide.com/weather/ca/aromas.htm
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Reference text http://hydro.csumb.edu/ALBA_CSUMB/ALBA_Triple_M_Conditions_Concepts.pdf
Links
- Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association
- Elkhorn Slough Foundation
- Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve (ESNERR)
- IDcide - Local Information Data Server. Weather for the town of Aromas CA. http://www.idcide.com/weather/ca/aromas.htm
- Maps of the Carneros Watershed
- Pajaro Valley Groundwater Overdraft Concerns
- Potential watershed impacts on Elkhorn Slough
- Triple M Ranch
